Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-06-04
PETS OF THE HOUSEHOLD.
The Queen OF All.
BY OLIVE THORNE MILLER.
From Harper's Bazaar.


From Harper's Bazaar
The first words to be said about the most charm
Ing OF household pets, strange to say, must be
| In reputation OF ISLANDERS that have been heaped
upon it.
nttie STUDY Into the history Of the cat comforts
all lovers OF the beautiful creature with the fact
that the prejudice against 1t is OF modern origin.
ana II not conspicuous for good sense, 1t has at
ioa'' an excuse for being. Ancient peoples held
| ING Cat In hlgn esteem. The sentiment OF Egypt
Is 700 well known to be repeated; the Romans
| useo the animal as symbol of unconQuerable
ioVe Oh freedom; even so late as the Middle Ages
IL was Worsh1ped with public honors, ana a GER
tam mythical goddess, the wife OF Odin was repre-
Indeed hsS Dy pair OF cats. From this fact,
ahcestOrS became Christian they turned against
Inc Sneir WHOM goddess, set her down wtch, and
Wltches The cats silent and mysterious way s
unioIIunately confirmed the notion In the minds
VI Ine ignorant, and the bad name chung, as bad
names Will, even to this day.
,o TI.n curious Inconsistency the faults popu-
ta attIlo0ted to this animal are not rare in the
muam character, as French cat-lover has re-
marked Cats are fond OF luxury-exactly like
man; tney select the softest seats-how otherwise
40 we behave? They will not be made slaves-can
Iree men blame them? They ike sport-do not the
aesoteeS OF rod and gun the same? To sum up,
liz are Seinsn.alas! are we otherwise? eve
appIS 70 tiie Cat, says thoughtful writer. "the
same eptnets that dominent race always applies
into one which oostinately refuses to sink
Inc man VINO wishes slave OF course prefers
Tue uog, Wnlch.his best friend cannot deny-ts
many of the most discerning and eminent men
nave Deen lovers OF cats, from MOhammed with his
ahle PEI M rue through long list OF honor
Gautler, whose black cat had her seat at the din
ner-table with the family
IN spite or every detractiOn, to know well-bred
cat Is TO love 1t, and pet and parlor ornament
OF companion IL cannot be excelled: its dainty
ways and luiling song its refined and quiet man
m no
tachments, its individuality OF character and per.
iect independence, constitute togethera wonder
Iul charm Ior those who do not desire a mere echo
OF themselves. The most dign1fied OF animals the
cat Is also one OF the most sensitive. 1t Is capable
OF passing through life In the house a shy, Silent
snauoW, requiring no sympathy, showing no emo
ton, becoming attached TO no one: but in the
sunshine OF love and Kindness it expands into q
totally different being, warm friend and most
lntellgent companion, even, as science assures
Us. having more brains than a dog AS an indi-
viduai IL Is an interesting study, race OF ami
more decided tastes.
contrary TO the usual notion. cats will learn al
most anything under kind and gentle treatment
AS Wen as a dog, a cat will 'beg," dance, shake
hands, walk on the hind-reet ring a. bell wipe the
ieel anu, more Than dog, will stand up and catch
IN tne paws anything thrown to Ii. Moreover,
even with the little attention that has been paid
TO their training, cats have frequently acted as re-
a sealed book.
Many varieties Of the feline race are domesti.
GATED among US from the tailless, unnatural-look-
the Tails or more fortunate neighbors, the lop-
cared puSS OF China, and the stiff-halred one Of
Airlca through all our own familiar sorts, to the
much-prlzed AngOra, and lastly the Persian, truly
the queen or the tribe.
In In a charming house in the upper part of New
YORK reignS one OF this family. Sne lacks none OF
the Well-defined 'points" OF the pure Persian and
Is called VaShti, partly from her queenly beauty
and partly, as her mistress owns "because she
does not come When she is called" This beauty is
OF an exquisite Maltese color, with long silky hair
ana ana TOPAZ eyes. fun run around her neck and
lealhereu ears and toes testify TO her pure blood
'.Dundreary whiSkers' and a tail like banner
complete her charms, and in this description are
noted the distinctions OF her breed. Not ali Per-
SLAMS are oi her colOr there are several varieties
tne preferable being pure white with yellow eyes
Persians possess all the cat virtue, including a
gentle disposition, In which latter quality they
excel the Angora, their rival in popularity.
the Ansora (or AngOla) is "a cat OF superbly
dlgnlned MANNERS. but It's long hair, being closely
CURED, Is extremely hard to keep in nice order
needing. In fact, frequent washing IL is sup
posed 10 be descended from the Siberian Wild
cat, and Its cries are said TO be more unciy-
lied and weird than the unknown tongue In which
ordinary pusSies exchange opinions on the back
fence Either OF these cats Is a beautiful crea-
ture, though not so intelligent as the Short-haired
kinds. PersianS are often imported but there are
places In New York where the kittens may be
sometimes procured at a moderate price
Or the short-haired cats perhaps the greatest
fayOrite Is white with blue eyes Ii to these ar
fractions are added tufted ears, the animal ranks
hlgn, and Is considered worthy OF ribbon collar
and silk tasSels on the tips OF the ears The
points especially desired are perfect whitene,s
%
good nearing Qor some are deaI. and manners not
TOO languld IL must be said that a cat or This
sort, though afectionate and exceedingly orna-
mental In "a room, IS not the most knowing OF It's
family. TO be thing OF beauty Is quite salts
factory TO the high-bred creature
Next in favor is the maltese, sometimes called
the blue, and TO be perfect it should be OF a rich
dark shade, tree from hint or SUSPICION OF any
other hue. Amoer-eolored eyes, and lips and soles
OF black, are equally Indispensable. TO these
qualities the maltese adds good temper and bright
ness.
uI,a
people 10 be the black cat Ii is Certainly tine
best m0user, having sight and hearing OF remark
abe keenness. To DeperfecL it should not show a
white hair, the eyes should be hazel or brown and
the fur glossy.
A pure tortoise-shell is not often seem 1t should
be OF distinct markings in black and deep orange
yelloW-or, In dealers language red-WiUhouJ
nair OF white In character 1t Is brave and some
what Independent OF ones affection. II Is grace
Iul ana StrlAlngly handsome creature.
OF the familiar Tables the most attractive 10
the eye is the silver or blue tabby, with a coat
blush or silyery gray, with stripes OF black
Rather small, graceful, and quick In movement,
II IS one OF the most pleasing OF the family
The brown tabby, although one OF the most COM
mon Is yet distinguished for intelligence This is
tue animal most easily trained, or which the hest
stories are told, and which most frequently figures
! as ..Irick cat" IL is honest faithful and fmd
/ Of children. IL Is striped brown and bIack and
| should have no white.
The treatment OF this delightful pet Is worthy
word, for no domestic animal is so systemaIi-
cally neglected as pussy. 1t would hardly seem ne
cessary 10 say that an animal must be uarly FED
Il notion
that a cat can ''pick up enough to eat and thus
actually train the poor creature to be thief for
the moment 1t ''pickS up any thing that is wanted
by others IL is so branded Let one accept that
/ outrageous Iallacy that cat must be Kept hun
CRY IL she Is needed TO catch mice. Like many old
savings, this Is exactly opposite the truth for a
han-Starved cat has not spirit to Catch anything
/ while well-fed one accepts that duty as spOrf
| The cat should have a good bed in a comfortable
| place, and never be turned Out-Of-dOOrs for the
| night, unless one wishes to develop a thief and
yagabond.
| 10 make this pet altogether happy it should
! have now and then little catnip, and be treated
| occasionally TO an acOru-sized scrap OF butter:
Also when asparagus Is served bit should ALWAYS
be offered to puss. A nj may be Instantly relieved
by ether held 10 the nose. Never, never should a
cat be left 10 shirk Tor itself during the summer
absence OF a family. 1t Is a common and most
| cruel outrage, and IL not starved lost the car
Will be hopelessly corrupted by the vagrant life
| forced upon IL.
In conclusion, If cat is loved, and its ELOQUENT
| language OF gesture, as well as OF voice. studied
and understood, IL will be found Intelligent alto
getheI charming, and truly the queen OF pets
| London Society Thieves.